Free legal assistance as clients of the LSU Law Small Business and Community Development Clinic
August 22, 2025
The Russell J. Stutes Small Business and Community Development Clinic at LSU Law is currently accepting clients for the fall semester. Louisiana small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations who cannot reasonably afford the legal help they need are invited to apply to access free legal services as clients of the clinic.
The client application form can be completed online at law.lsu.edu/forms/sbcdc/.
Under the supervision of licensed faculty, upper-level LSU Law students will begin working with about one dozen small businesses and nonprofit clients in the fall semester. While students will not assist clients with litigation or disputes, they will be able to help with a wide range of legal issues, including:
“Many Louisiana small businesses and nonprofits are at a marked disadvantage because they don’t have the resources to access the type of helpful legal assistance that our students will provide in the Small Business and Community Development Clinic,” said LSU Law Professor Jordan Engelhart, who directs the clinic. “This is a great opportunity for small businesses and nonprofits to start out on the right foot and address potential issues before they become costly problems. Through our students’ work in the clinic, we are hoping to help level the playing field.”
The Russell J. Stutes Small Business and Community Development Clinic was created via a major gift from LSU Law alumnus Russell “Rusty” Stutes Jr. (’91) and his mother, Cissy Stutes, in memory of the late Russell J. Stutes Sr.
The client application form can be completed online at law.lsu.edu/forms/sbcdc/.
Under the supervision of licensed faculty, upper-level LSU Law students will begin working with about one dozen small businesses and nonprofit clients in the fall semester. While students will not assist clients with litigation or disputes, they will be able to help with a wide range of legal issues, including:
- Entity counseling and formation
- Bylaws, LLC operating agreements, and corporate governance
- Tax exempt applications (Form 1023)
- State and federal filing and reporting responsibilities
- Employment law
- Contract drafting and review
- Terms of service and privacy policies
- Intellectual property (copyright and trademark)
- Regulation compliance
- Permitting and licensing
“Many Louisiana small businesses and nonprofits are at a marked disadvantage because they don’t have the resources to access the type of helpful legal assistance that our students will provide in the Small Business and Community Development Clinic,” said LSU Law Professor Jordan Engelhart, who directs the clinic. “This is a great opportunity for small businesses and nonprofits to start out on the right foot and address potential issues before they become costly problems. Through our students’ work in the clinic, we are hoping to help level the playing field.”
The Russell J. Stutes Small Business and Community Development Clinic was created via a major gift from LSU Law alumnus Russell “Rusty” Stutes Jr. (’91) and his mother, Cissy Stutes, in memory of the late Russell J. Stutes Sr.
